Knife



y 20, 1941, H. L. FISCHER 2,243,030

KNIFEL Filed May 4, 1938 Patented May 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in knives, wherein it is desired to provide a simple construction of knife provided with a handle which is adapted to form the sheath to enclose the blade and protect the same when the bladev is not desired for use.

The construction is adapted for use for pocket knives where the blade may act for difierent uses, and where a single blade may be adjusted into different positions, being operated by a micrometric feeding means employing a screw member or element to operate the blade into the desired position. Thus the blade may be projected any degree desired, and is held in the adjusted position locked and against free movement therefrom until the blade operating means is operated.

A feature resides in providing a knife wherein the blade operating means includes a, resilient member which will operate the blade into the desired position and provide a cushioning means so as to protect the blade when it is projected out into operative position, so that any thrust against the end of the blade will be greatly absorbed' by the resilient structure of the blade operating means.

A feature resides in the arrangement of parts and the construction of the handle and sheath for the blade, wherein the blade is supported by a closed channel excepting at the end cut of which the blade projects; and extending longitudinally along one edge of the blade a screw element is positioned in a manner to provide resilient means for engaging the blade, and thus holding the same under the tension of the resilient means as well as engaging the blade on the edge, which permits the same to be projected to the greatest degree and yet maintaining a substantial bearing for the rear end of the blade to firmly support the same in use. Thus the handle or sheath of the knife is of a simple character and may be provided with a longitudinal cylindrical bore, which is virtually tangentially connected with the fiat slot or bore opening for the blade.

It is also a feature of my knife to provide a construction wherein the handle may be of a fiat thin nature so that it may be readily carried as a pen knife in the pocket; or it may be used for other purposes, including hunting knives where the knife may be of a compact nature and may have the blade adjustable into different positions as is desired.

A further feature resides in a construction of knife where by the removal of one screw the knife may be taken apart and any of the worn parts replaced.

It is also a feature to provide a knife with a blade having smooth sides so that it can be carried a channel or slot, and adapted to move free y in t same, a he e int g l t h or lug means project from the edge of the blade, which are adapted to engage with the blade propellihg screw means to move the blade in the channel. This construction permits the blade to be held closely within the handle so that it will be firmly supported at all times, and in any position whether partially projected from the handle or completely projected to the point where only the butt end of the blade remains Within the handle as a bearing for holding the blade.

It is a feature to provide a knife wherein the propelling or repelling element or means is in the form of a ribbon-like helically wound screw member, which provides a working edge adapted to engage against the edge of the teeth projecting from the edge of the blade, which provides a non-slipping engagement between the screw member and the blade having a tendency to lock the blade in any adjusted position, and permitting the screw member to act as a coil spring by reason of the free mounting of the screw member within the recess provided for the same in the handle.

These features, together with other details and uses will be apparent and will be more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side View of my knife.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the handle portion of the same.

Figure 3 illustrates the threaded blade propelling member and operating knob as it would appear when removed from the casing.

Figure 4 illustrates the blade removed from the casing.

Figure 5 is a rear end view of my knife.

Figure 6 is a rear end view of the casing with the closure and chain loop member removed.

Figure 7 is a side view of the closure and chain loop member removed from the casing.

Figure 8 is a rear end View of the closure member shown in Figure '7.

The knife A is formed with a casing it which is adapted to normally inclose the blade B when not in use. The casing It is formed with a longitudinal narrow passageway I I through the same. The blade B is adapted to slide and be held closely within the passageway H which forms a bearing surface for the sides and the edges of the butt end of the blade so as to hold the blade B firmly when it is projected out of the slot l2 at the forward end of the passageway II. The sides of the casing It are closed and may be formed with suitable decoration within the space 13 on each'side of the blade, if it is desired. It is apparent that advertising subject matter or name plates may be supported by the side in the space [3 of the casing. The casing l0 is-formed with a cylindrical longitudinally extending opening I4 which opens along the bottom throughout its length into the blade passageway II. The forward end of the opening I4 is closed and provides a shoulder I5, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

A propelling means is provided for the knife A which includes a spirally wound ribbon-like propelling member I6 which is adapted to rotate l within the passage I5 and which is operated by the finger knob I]. The finger knob I"! may be suitably knurled so that it may be easily engaged by the fingers to rotate the same. The finger knob I1 is formed with a rod-like projecting end I6 which fits into the rear portion of the propelling member I6 and which may be soldered or otherwise rigidly attached to thepropelling member I6.

The knob I'I'is provided with an annular recess I9 formed between the flange portions 20. A closure and chain loop member C is provided to close the rear end of the passage II of the casing ID of the knife A. The operating knob I1 is adapted to be engaged by the ends 2| of the closure and chain loop member C to hold the propelling member I6 in operative position in the casing II) of the knife A. The closure member C is provided with a projecting flange 22 having a screw opening 23 and by means of the screw 24 this member is held in position to close the rear end of the knife and also in operative position to hold the propelling means I6 and the knob I'I against longitudinal movement when the knife is assembled. The closure and chain loop C is formed with an opening 25 by which it may be attached to a watch chain or otherwise supported,"

if it is desired. The member C acts not only as a closure for the rear of the casing Id of the knife A, but also provides the loop for attachment with a watch chain and provides the means of holding the propelling unit or element I6 with the knob I! in operative position when the knife is assembled.

The blade B may be of any suitable style or shape to provide the form of blade desired for the When the knife A is desired for particular knife. pocket use, the blade B maybe substantially of the design and shape illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. If the blade is desired for a hunting knife,

where a stronger structure may be desired, the

blade may be heavier and the passageway I I may be wider to accommodate the dimensions of the blade. The blade B is formed with integrally projecting teeth 26 positioned at the rear or butt end 21 of the blade.

blade and project from the edge thereof so as to provide a means of engagement with the thread ed propelling member I6. A feature of my knife A resides in the simple structure wherein the teeth 26 engage with the working edge of the screw or propelling member I6 to propel and I repel the blade B in thehandle I0, and in retudinal slot 29 in the movementof the blade in the handle I6. The teeth 26 project through the The lugs or teeth 26 are preferably formed integral With the body of the those skilled in the artwithout slot 29 shown in Figure 6, to engage between the coils of the propelling member I6 and the upper edge 30 of the blade engages against the coils of the propelling member with a slight tension so as to provide a frictional and spring engagement of the blade to the member I6 through the teeth 26 and the upper edge 30 of the blade B.

When the blade B is projected out of the slot I2 of the passageway I I, the upper edge 30 of the blade engages against the shoulder edge 3|, and the lower edge 32 of the blade B rides on the bottom 33 of the passageway II. The sides of the blade are held closely to the walls of the passageway II, thereby holding the blade firmly in any position that it may be projected from the handle II]. When the blade B is projected to its fullest extent, the forward tooth 26 will strike against the shoulder I5 to prevent the blade from being projected outward any further. The butt end 21 of the blade acts to hold the blade firmly in any operative position. The sharp edge 34 of the blade is spaced from the lower edge 33 of the passageway I I so as to keep the sharp edge from being dulled when the blade is propelled and repelled.

The knife A is of a simple structure with the handle or casing I0 having a flat nature and being adapted to inclose'the blade B so that it is entirely protected and so that the blade is not visible until it is projected out of the slot I I. V The handle may be disassembled very readily so that any of the parts thereof may be replaced, it being only necessary to remove the screw 24, whereupon the closure member C will release the blade B, and the operating screw I6. The screw member 16 with the knob I'I operating the same, provide a means of propelling the blade B micrometrically out of the casing I6, so that any degree of projection may be obtained to the complete projection of the blade out of the casing which supports the same. The casing I6. forms the handle which provides a suitable gripping means for the hand in holding the knife, and with a pocket knife made in this manner, with a single blade,

the advantages of different lengths of blade may be obtained very quickly by the simple propelling means. The blade is held firmly in any adjusted position. It appears that the teeth 26 acting edgewise upon the working edges of the .coils of the threaded screw member I6, have a tendency fto lock the blade in any position of operation without slipping, which probably is because of this peculiar construction where the teeth 26 engage the screw I6 in a manner to grip the working edges of the same to hold the blade in place.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of constructionand operation of my knife, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that these are only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made by departing from the spirit-of myinvention. Y H

Iclaim:- 1. A knife including a blade, a handle for said bladea threaded member adapted to contact said blade in. a manner to operate .the same to move'into and out of said. blade insaid handle,

said blade being normally concealed in said handle.

- 2. A knife includinga blade means, projecting means extendingfrom said blade} resilient threadedmeans, a handle fornormally' concealing said blade, said threaded means being adapted to engage said projecting means to operate said blade in and out of said handle micrometrically.

3. A knife including a handle for normally concealing blade means therein, tooth means projecting from the edge of said blade means, a resilient screw means in said handle, whereby when said screw means engages said tooth means and is rotated, said blade is moved micrometrically in or out of said handle.

4. A knife comprising a blade having integral projecting means, a resilient screw means adapted to engage said projecting means to operate said blade means when said screw is rotated, and a handle for normally concealing said blade when not in use.

5. A knife including a blade having integrally projecting tooth means, a resilient screws means adapted to engage said tooth means to operate said blade means into and out of said handle when said screw is rotated, a handle for normally concealing said blade means when not in use, and a flat slot-like channel in said handle for receiving said blade.

6. A knife including a blade having tooth means projecting from the edge thereof, a handle having a flat blade receiving recess, adapted to fit closely to the sides and edges of said blade and in which said blade is adapted to slide, resilient screw means for projecting and retracting said blade in said handle, and a longitudinally extending bore in said handle connecting with said channel in which said blade slides, and adapted to support said screw means and permit said screw means to resiliently and frictionally engage said blade to hold the same in any adjusted projected, or retracted position.

'7. A knife including a handle for inclosing the blade; means for propelling and repelling the blade, including teeth formed on the edge of said blade.

8. A knife comprising a handle adapted to provide a sheath for a blade; a knife blade, screw propelling means extending longitudinally along said blade; and a closure having an eye for a chain, said closure adapted to hold said propelling means and blade in said handle.

9. A knife including a handle having a fiat passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; a knife blade adapted to fit closeli within and be supported slidably within said passageway; said handle having an open slot at the forward end thereof out of which said blade is adapted to project; a second longitudinally extending passageway communicating along one side of the greater portion of said passageway; a screw propelling and operating means freely rotatable within said last passageway; said blade being adapted to be operated by said propelling means; and a closure member for the rear of said handle adapted to engage said propelling means to hold the same locked in operative position and removably held to said handle by a single screw.

10. A handle and operating means for a blade including a blade; a handle portion; a passageway extending through said handle; a longitudinal chamber along the substantial length of said passageway and communicating therewith; means projecting into said chamber from said blade; a shoulder to stop the forward movement of said blade, positioned at the forward end of said chamber; a threaded means for operating said blade supported in said chamber; and a closure for the rear end of said handle.

11. A handle and operating means for a blade comprising a blade passageway extending through said handle, shaped to fit the sides and edges of a blade; a longitudinal chamber communicating in an open slot throughout the greater portion of one side of said passageway; a propelling member adapted to be supported rotatably in said chamber and having an operating head projecting from the rear end thereof beyond said handle; a removable closure for the rear end of said blade passageway in said handle, and means for holding said closure to said handle.

12. A slidable knife blade including body and blade portions; guiding edges on said blade one of which holds the sharp edge of the blade free of the handle; and nut means formed on one of said guiding edges for engagement with a resilient threaded means to operate said blade.

13. A knife handle and sheath; a body portion; a flat upright longitudinal blade passageway extending through said body; a longitudinal chamber opening into 'said passageway along substantially the length thereof; and a closure member for the rear of said body and passageway.

14*. A knife handle and sheath; a body portion; a flat upright longitudinal blade passageway extending through said body; a longitudinal chamber opening into said passageway along substantially the length thereof; a closure member for the rear of said body and passageway; and a screw for holding said closure to said body.

15. A knife blade including a flat body portion; a butt end having upper and lower guiding surfaces; a sharp edge recessed from one of said guiding surfaces; and nut means formed on said blade for operating the same when engaged by a rotatable thread.

16. A knife blade adapted to be propelled into and out of a sheath, including bearing surfaces for slidably supporting said blade; and nut means formed on said blade for engagement with a resilient operating thread to propel or repel the blade.

17. A pocket knife comprising a handle having a chamber extending longitudinally thereof and opening at one end, a longitudinally reciprocable blade within said chamber having a rigid guiding and supporting portion at its rear end, means within said chamber cooperating with said rigid blade portion for guiding the blade in its reciprocal movements, a screw in said handle disposed substantially in the plane of the blade and extending along one edge thereof, said screw being mounted in the handle for rotational but non-axial movement and being of a length substantially coextensive with the blade when the latter is positioned wholly within said chamber, means engageable exteriorly of the handle for rotating the screw, and connecting means between the screw and said guiding and supporting portion of the blade operative in the rotation of the screw to impart longitudinal movements to the blade.

18. A knife including a handle formed with a blade slot, a blade adapted to slide into said handle to be concealed therein, screw means for operating said blade, and means projecting integrally from the edge of said blade adapted to engage said screw means.

HOWARD L. FISCHER. 

